Controlled cutting force assembly

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to an apparatus for cleaning edges of sheet metal can body blanks prior to welding. The cleaning is accomplished by means of high speed cutters. In order to assure a uniform abrading or cutting action without the wearing of the cutters becoming a factor, a special guide is associated with each cutter for deflecting an edge portion of a sheet metal blank being cleaned into controlled pressure engagement with the cutter. The guide is preferably actuated by means of an air piston.

United States Patent Cary 1 51 May 23, 1972 54] CONTROLLED CUTTING FORCE 1,097,976 5/1914 Henderson ..9o/1s ASSEMBLY 3,250,179 5/1966 Cavagnero ..90/ l 1 John T. Cary, Markham, Ill.

[72] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Continental Can Company, Inc., New

York, N.Y;

[22] Filed: Jan. 12, 1970 [21] App]. No; 2,290

[52] US. Cl. ..90/l8, 90/11 R, 51/80 A [51] Int. Cl. ..B23c 3/12 [58] Field ofSearch ..90/18, 11 R,2l,DIG. 2,58 A,

90/215; 51/238 R, 80 A, 80 B, 80 BS; 144/129, 117

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,538,812 11/1970 Morel et a1. ..90/11 R X CLEAN roses Primary Examiner-Gil Weidenfeld Attomey-Diller, Brown, Ramik & Holt [57] ABSTRACT This disclosure relates to an apparatus for cleaning edges of sheet metal can body blanks prior to welding. The cleaning is 10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures CLEAN EDGES PATENTEDMM 23 I972 SHEET 1 OF 2 /NVEA/TUR JOHN T. CARY mu. 4M

ATTU QHEYS PATENTEDMAY 2 3 i972 SHEET 2 BF 2 M/l/E/(NUR Mum MS mw H\ 1 CONTROLLED CUTTING FORCE ASSEMBLY This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in edge cleaning, and more specifically to a novel apparatus for effecting a controlled pressure engagement between an edge of a metal sheet and a cutter so as to provide for a uniform abrading or cleaning action at all times.

This invention particularly relates to the edge cleaning of can body blanks prior to the forming of a welded side seam. In the past, such can body blanks have been simultaneously moved relative to four carbide cutters rotating at a high speed with the carbide cutters cleaning edge portions of the can body blanks along the opposite side edges thereof on opposite surfaces thereof. When the correct relationship has been maintained between the carbide cutters and the path of movement of the can body blanks, the desired cleaning or abrading action has occurred. However, when this adjustment is varied from, such as may occur when the carbide cutters become worn, or because of wear of the guide for the can body blank, an improper abrading or cleaning action occurs This, in turn, results in an improper weld being formed along the sideseam of the resulting can body. I

In accordance with this invention, it is proposed to provide an edge cleaning apparatus wherein the cutting force applied by the carbide cutter to the edge portion being abraded may be readily controlled.

Another feature of this invention is to provide a cleaning apparatus for edge cleaning metal sheets and strips wherein the metal sheets and strips are fed in a normal manner and are generally guided in a normal manner, but wherein there is a further guide associated with each abrading member for deflecting an edge portion of each metal sheet or strip into controlled forcible engagement with the abrading member.

In accordance with the foregoing, it is proposed that a guide be mounted in radial relation with respect to an abrading member and that the guide be constantly urged under pressure towards the abrading member whereby the edge portion of a metal sheet or strip is brought into contact with the abrading member under a predetermined controlled force.

A further feature of this invention is that the force applying guide be actuated by means of a fluid piston, which piston may be an air piston if so desired so that the question of fluid leakage thereby is not effective.

A further feature of this inventionis the provision of a fluid pressure actuated guide for urging an edge portion of a sheet metal blank or strip being cleaned by engagement with an abrading member, the guide being of a simple construction and readily adapted to be mounted on a support for the abrading tool.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood that various changes in details and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

IN THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. I is a plan viewof the edge cleaning apparatus of this invention and shows generally the relationship of the various components thereof. 7

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and shows the relationship of two of the edge cleaning units with respect to can body blanks and guides therefor.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2 and shows more speeifically the details of one ofthe edge cleaning units.

FIG. 4 is a rotated enlarged exploded perspective view of a combined mounting bracket and guide assembly formed in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2 and shows specifically the details of the guide structure associated with one of the abrading tools.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken generally along the line 66 of FIG. 5 and shows further the details of the guide and the relationship thereof to the abrading tool.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along the line 7--7 of FIG. 6 and shows further the details of the guide and the abrading tool.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the lower portion of the force applying guide as viewed in FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the lower portion of the pressure applying guide as it appears in FIG. 6.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 an edge cleaning apparatus for can body blanks in accordance with this invention, the edge cleaning apparatus being generally identified by the numeral 10. The edge cleaning apparatus 10 includes a suitable frame, which is generally identified by the numeral 11 and which in of itself is not a part of this invention, but which will be partially described here so as to understand the relationship of the various components of the invention. The frame 11 is provided with a pair of longitudinally extending mounting flanges l2 and 13 which are generally disposed outermost and uppermost. Generally extending between the mounting flanges l2 and 13 at the left end of the frame 11 is a stack apparatus for receiving a stack of can body blanks B to be edge cleaned. At the opposite end of the frame 11 there is a receptacle 15 mounting in depending relation for receiving can body blanks B which have been edge cleaned.

In order to facilitate the movement sequentially of can body blanks B from the hopper l4, longitudinally across the frame 11 and into the receptacle 15, there is provided an endless conveyor assembly 16 which is suitably mounted within the frame 11. The endless conveyor assembly 16 includes a pair of endless conveyor members 17 and 18 which are disposed in parallel relation and which are provided with transversely aligned lugs 20 for engagement with an edge of the lowermost can body blank B within the hopper 14 and to effect the movement thereof longitudinally of the edge cleaning apparatus 10.

I The endless conveyor assembly 16 includes a suitable drive motor 21.

Suitable guide assemblies 22 and 23 are mounted on the upper part of the frame 11 for receiving edge portions of the can body blanks B. The guide assemblies 22 and 23 are substantially identical and each includes a lower guide member 24 and an overlying guide member 25, as is clearly shown in FIG. 2.

The edge cleaning apparatus can also include four edge cleaning units, two on each side of the frame 11. The edge cleaning units are identified by the numerals 26, 27, 28 and 29. It is to be noted that the edge cleaning units 26 and 27 are disposed on the same side of the frame 11 with the edge cleaning unit 26 being adapted to clean the upper surface of a can body blank and the edge cleaning unit 27 being adapted to clean the under surface. In a like manner, the edge cleaning units 28 and 29 are disposed on the same side of the frame 11 with the edge cleaning unit 28 being adapted to clean the upper surface of the can body blank and the edge cleaning unit 29 being adapted to clean the under surface of the can body blank.

It is to be noted at this time that the guide assemblies 22 and 23 are partially interrupted to provide clearance for the edge cleaning units.

Referring now to FIG. 4 in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated a combined mounting bracket and guide assembly for a typical one of the edge cleaning units which, for the purpose of description only will be the edge cleaning unit 29. This assembly is generally identified by the numeral 30 and includes a mounting bracket which is generally identified by the numeral 31. The mounting bracket 31 includes a base 32 and a flange 33 which projects normal to the base 32 at one end thereof. The base 32 is hollowed out as at 34 and the flange 33 is provided with an opening 35 for the reception of a drive motor, such as a drive motor 36 illustrated in FIG. 3. The

flange 33 is vertically split as at 37 and has a clamp bolt 38 extending therethrough transversely of the split 37. An end of the clamp bolt 38 is threadedly engaged in an internally threaded portion 40 of the flange 33. The clamp bolt 38 may be utilized to tightly clamp the flange 33 about the drive motor 36.

The base 32 has a wall 41 parallel to and remote from the flange 33 which is of a stepped configuration so as to define a recess 42. A guidemember 43 is removably seated within the recess 42 and is secured to the base 32 by a means of a pair of fasteners 44. The guide member 43 is generally L-shaped in cross section and has a longitudinally extending notch formed in the upper portion thereof facing the wall 41. As a result, the guide member 43 presents a relatively narrow upper guide surface 46 which terminates at the upper ends thereof in sloping portions 47. The guide member 43 is also provided with a centrally located circular opening 48 which will be described in detail hereinafter. It is to be noted that this circular opening 48 is aligned with a generally square notch 50 in the upper portion of the wall 41 when the guide member 43 is mounted on the mounting bracket 31.

The assembly 30 also includes a guide unit which is generally identified by the numeral 51. The guide unit 51 includes a combined mounting and guide member 52 which is generally rectangular in plan and which is removably secured at the left end ofthe base 32, as viewed in FIG. 4, by means of a pair of fasteners 53 which are threaded into internally threaded bores 54 in the upper corner surfaces of the base 32. The member 52 is provided with a shallow undercut, as at 55, on the under surface thereof so as to define a narrow guide surface 56 which opposes the guide surface 46 and is aligned therewith. The ends of the guide surface 56 abut as at 57 so as to facilitate the entry of a can body blank between the guide surfaces 46 and 56.

The guide unit 51 also includes a force applying guide member 58 which projects down below the guide surface 56in the operative position thereof, as is clearly shown in FIG. 6. The guide member 52 has an opening 60 through which the guide member 58 extends. The opening 60 is disposed rearwardly of the guide surface 56 from the path of can body blank movement, as is shown in FIG. 5, and is vertically aligned with the axis of the drive motor 36.

A piston housing or cylinder 61 overlies the guide member 52 and is secured thereto by a plurality 'of fasteners 62 which pass through the piston housing 61 and are threadedly engaged in the guide member 52 in a conventional manner. The piston housing 61 has a cylinder 63 defined therein in axial alignment with the opening 60. The cylinder 63 has mounted therein for reciprocatory movement a piston 64 which is an integral part of the guide member 58.

The guide member 58 has a specially configurated lower surface which will be described in detail hereinafterv In order to assure proper orientation of the guide member 58, the piston 64 is provided with an aligning pin 65 which is received within a bore 66 in the piston housing 61, the pin 65 preventin g rotation of the piston 64 within the cylinder 63.

The piston housing 61 is provided with a port 67 which opens into the upper end of the cylinder 63 and is provided with an internally threaded entrance portion 68 for the reception of a suitable fluid line fitting (not shown). It is to be understood that a suitable fluid under pressure may be directed into the cylinder 63 to urge the piston 64 downwardly, as viewed in FIG. 6, so that the guide member 58 may exert a force on sheet metal passing therebeneath. The specific function of the guide member 58 will be described in detail hereinafter.

Referring once again to FIGS. and 6, it will be seen that a can body blank B having an edge portion thereof cleaned in accordance with this invention will be supported immediately adjacent that edge portion which is being cleaned by the guide surface 46. However, the edge portion of the body blank B which extends beyond the guide surface 46 is free to deflect slightly. As is shown in FIG. 5, with the specific guide arrangement of that view, the guide member 58 urges the edge portion downwardly. So as to provide a proper contact with the surface of the body blank B, the free end of the guide member 58, in transverse section, as is shown in FIG. 9, includes a flat portion 70 and a sloping portion 71, the sloping portion 71 providing clearance for the bending of the metal of the body blank B.

With particular reference to FIG. 6, it will be seen that the body blank B is downwardly longitudinally bowed in that arrangement of the guide assembly. As a result, in longitudinal section, the free end of the guide member 58 is rounded as at 72 in FIG. 8. This both facilitates the initial movement of a leading edge of a body blank pass the guide member 58 and freedom of drag between the guide member 58 and the body blank B.

Referring once again to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, it will be seen that the drive motor 36 is provided with a chuck portion 73 in which a conventional carbide cutter 74 is chucked for rotation In the initial use position of the carbide cutter 74, it passes out through the notch 50, but terminates short of the opening 48 in the guide member 43, However, after the end portion of the carbide cutter 74 has become worn, it may be advanced further outwardly to the right, as viewed in FIG. 5, at which time it will project into the opening 48. At this time it is pointed out that the opening 48 is disposed eccentric to the axis of the carbide cutter 74 and has the upper portion thereof disposed as close as practical to the guide surface 46 of the guide member 43 without opening thereinto, In this manner the guide surface 46 is always continuous while the carbide cutter 74 is positioned immediately adjacent the plane of the guide surface 46 for performing the necessary abrading action after the edge portion of the body blank has been deflected.

Referring now to FIG. 3 in particular, it will be seen that the drive motor 36 is mounted within a holder 75 of a split construction and which is provided with suitable clamp bolts 76. The holder 75, in turn, is removably secured to an upstanding bracket 77 carried by one of the flanges 12 and 13 by means of suitable fasteners 78. The fasteners 78 pass through slotted openings 80 in the holder 77 so as to vertically adjust the drive motor 36.

It will be readily apparent from the foregoing that the mounting bracket 30 is axially suspended from the drive motor 36 as opposed to being the mounting means therefor. Normally the mounting bracket 30 will be supported solely by the drive motor 36 although it may be backed up by the mounting bracket 77, as is shown in FIG. 3. It will be readily apparent that if additional rigidity is required for the mounting bracket 30, suitable means may be provided for securely anchoring the same to the bracket 77 or some other component of the frame 11 after it has been adjusted together with the drive motor 36.

It will be readily apparent from the foregoing that the relationship between the force applying guide member 58, the can body blank B and the carbide cutter 74 will be such that a controlled pressure engagement between the carbide cutter and the can body blank may be maintained notwithstanding variations in the diameter of the carbide cutter due to wear and other minor adjustment relationships which would normally prevent a proper cleaning action. It is to be understood that the force applied by the guide member 58 is to be relatively light, on the order of l to 3 pounds, although it may be increased or varied as desired to provide for the desired cleaning action. It has also been found that there is very little wear on the force applying guide member 58 and that this wear is automatically compensated for by the application of fluid into the cylinder 63.

It is further pointed outhere that while the piston and cylinder arrangement for applying force utilizing the guide member 58 may utilize any type of fluid under pressure, it is preferred that the fluid be air so that no seals are required. The piston and cylinders arrangement may be sufficiently closely machined so that the loss of air is negligible and there is no undesirable hydraulic fluid wastage. Furthermore, because the air pressure involved is very small, the effect of the escaping air is in no way detrimental.

It will be apparent from FIG. 6 that the piston 64 will bottom before the guide member 58 engages the cutter 74, the main clearance being 0.002 inch.

Although only a preferred embodiment of the specific guide structure has been illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minor variations may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for abrading edges of moving sheet material, a support for supporting moving sheet material in a predetermined plane, a rotatable abrading member disposed on one side of said plane and in overlapping-relation with the intended path of movement of an edge portion of moving sheet material to be abraded, and a pressure applying unit disposed on the opposite side of said plane for deflecting an edge portion of moving sheet material beyond said plane into pressure contact with said abrading member to assure a uniform abrading action by said abrading member notwithstanding wearing of said abrading member, said pressure applying unit including an extensible fluid motor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support includes a pair of guides having guide surfaces arranged in closely opposed relation on opposite sides of said plane, said guide surfaces being disposed inboard of said intended path of movement of an edge portion ofmoving sheet material.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said pressure applying unit is carried by one ofsaid guides.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said abrading member is driven by a power unit, a mounting member is provided for the mounting of said power unit, and said guides are carried by said mounting member.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said pressure applying unit is carried by one of said guides, said pressure applying unit including a cylinder having a movable piston mounted therein, said cylinder being mounted on said one guide, a pressure applying plunger carried by said piston and projecting out of said cylinder and a guide bore formed in said one guide for said plunger with said plunger adapted to project beyond said one guide towards said plane.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said pressure applying unit is carried by one of said guides, said pressure applying unit including a cylinder having a movable piston mounted therein, said cylinder being mounted on said one guide, a pressure applying plunger carried by said piston and projecting out of said cylinder, said plunger having a rounded lower end, and

cooperating means on said piston and cylinder preventing relative rotation of said plunger to maintain alignment of said plunger rounded surface with the direction of sheet material movement.

7. In an apparatus for abrading edges of moving sheet material, a combined mounting member and guide unit, said mounting member having means for rigidly mounting a power unit of the type adapted to support and rotate an abrading member with the abrading member having an operative portion thereof positioned closely adjacent to but slightly spaced from a predetermined plane, said guide unit including two guides carried by said mounting member for accurately positioning moving sheet material with a surface thereof exposed along said plane, said guides having closely spaced opposed guide surfaces, the guide surface of one of said guides forming a support for sheet material, and the other of said guides having a pressure applying unit aligned with the intended position of the abrading member and offset from said guide surfaces for deflecting an edge portion of sheet material passing through said guides into pressure contact with an abrading member.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said pressure applying unit including a cylinder having a movable piston mounted therein, said cylinder being mounted on said other guide, a pressure applying plunger carried by said piston and projecting out of said cylinder and a guide bore formed in said other guide for said plunger with said plunger adapted to project beyond said other guide towards said plane.

. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said pressure applying unit is carried by one of said guide, said pressure applying unit including a cylinder having a movable piston mounted therein, said cylinder being mounted on said other guide, a pressure applying plunger carried by said piston and projecting out of said cylinder, said plunger having a rounded lower end, and cooperating means on said piston and cylinder preventing relative rotation of said plunger to maintain alignment of said plunger rounded surface with the direction of sheet material movement.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said combined mounting member and guide unit is particularly adapted for use with an abrading member of the rotary file type having an axis parallel to said plane, said one guide has a recess therein into which an abrading member may project, and said recess being spaced from the guide surface of said one guide a very minor distance whereby deflection of sheet material is minimal. 

1. In an apparatus for abrading edges of moving sheet material, a support for supporting moving sheet material in a predetermined plane, a rotatable abrading member disposed on one side of said plane and in overlapping relation with the intended path of movement of an edge portion of moving sheet material to be abraded, and a pressure applying unit disposed on the opposite side of said plane for deflecting an edge portion of moving sheet material beyond said plane into pressure contact with said abrading member to assure a uniform abrading action by said abrading member notwithstanding wearing of said abrading member, said pressure applying unit including an extensible fluid motor.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support includes a pair of guides having guide surfaces arranged in closely opposed relation on opposite sides of said plane, said guide surfaces being disposed inboard of said intended path of movement of an edge portion of moving sheet material.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said pressure applying unit is carried by one of said guides.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said abrading member is driven by a power unit, a mounting member is provided for the mounting of said power unit, and said guides are carried by said mounting member.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said pressure applying unit is carried by one of said guides, said pressure applying unit including a cylinder having a movable piston mounted therein, said cylinder being mounted on said one guide, a pressure applying plunger carried by said piston and projecting out of said cylinder and a guide bore formed in said one guide for said plunger with said plunger adapted to project beyond said one guide towards said plane.
 6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said pressure applying unit is carried by one of said guides, said pressure applying unit including a cylinder having a movable piston mounted therein, said cylinder being mounted on said one guide, a pressure applying plunger carried by said piston and projecting out of said cylinder, said plunger having a rounded lower end, and cooperating means on said piston and cylinder preventing relative rotation of said plunger to maintain alignment of said plunger rounded surface with the direction of sheet material movement.
 7. In an apparatus for abrading edges of moving sheet material, a combined mounting member and guide unit, said mounting member having means for rigidly mounting a power unit of the type adapted to support and rotate an abrading member with the abrading member having an operative portion thereof positioned closely adjacent to but slightly spaced from a predetermined plane, said guide unit including two guides carried by said mounting member for accurately positioning moving sheet material with a surface thereof exposed along said plane, said guides having closely spaced opposed guide surfaces, the guide surface of one of said guides forming a support for sheet material, and the other of said guides having a pressure applying unit aligned with the intended position of the abrading member and offset from said guide surfaces for deflecting an edge portion of sheet material passing through said guides into pressure contact with an abrading member.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said pressure applying unit including a cylinder having a movable piston mounted therein, said cylinder being mounted on said other guide, a pressure applying plunger carried by said piston and projecting out of said cylinder and a guide bore formed in said other guide for said plunger with said plunger adapted to project beyond said other guide towards said plane.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said pressure applying unit is carried by one of said guide, said pressure applying unit including a cylinder having a movable piston mounted therein, said cylinder being mounted on said other guide, a pressure applying plunger carried by said piston and projecting out of said cylinder, said plunger having a rounded lower end, and cooperating means on said piston and cylinder preventing relative rotation of said plunger to maintain alignment of said plunger rounded surface with the direction of sheet material movement.
 10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said combined mounting member and guide unit is particularly adapted for use with an abrading member of the rotary file type having an axis parallel to said plane, said one guide has a recess therein into which an abrading member may project, and said recess being spaced from the guide surface of said one guide a very minor distance whereby deflection of sheet material is minimal. 